Karnataka to bring legislation to control adulterated milk production

BANGALORE: The state government is all set bring in a legislation to punish the guilty dealing with adulterated milk supply. 

Following Supreme Court's observation on December 5, the law and health are meeting on Thursday to discuss the modalities and set the ball rolling for the legislation. Law minister TB Jayachandra told reporters on Monday that necessary amendments to the existing or a fresh law would be introduced. "Milk coming from other states, supplied in border areas are reported of adulteration. Government will strictly deal with this," he said. 

The SC has asked state governments to make necessary amendments to their laws to make production and marketing of adulterated milk, which is injurious to human consumption, an offence punishable with life imprisonment. 

The observation by an apex court bench of Justice KS Radhakrishnan and Justice AK Sikri came after taking note of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha having made the sale of adulterated milk, contaminated with synthetic material, an offence punishable with life imprisonment. 

Asking the states to make the law to deal with production and sale of milk which is harmful to human beings more stringent, the court observed that the maximum punishment of six months for such offences under the Food Safety and Standards Act was grossly inadequate. 

The court was hearing a public suit which said samples collected by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in 2011 revealed large-scale sale of adulterated milk across the country.

The FSSAI survey had warned that 70% of milk sold in the country is adulterated. The survey said the milk samples collected from rural and urban areas of all states failed to meet the norms of food safety and standards (FSS). It included both packaged and lose milk.